Interchangeable hemline for the hem of a garment

ABSTRACT

An interchangeable hemline for changing the style of the hem of a garment includes a decorative strip, a durable strip, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The garment can be a pant, skirt, sleeve, collar, short, or the like. The decorative strip has the durable strip and first fastener attached to one side of the decorative strip. The second fastener is attached to the exterior of the garment just above the hem. The first fastener can be mated with the second fastener to hold the decorative strip to the outside of the garment. Once attached, the first and second fasteners along with the durable strip are no longer visible. The durable strip forms a pull tab at one end of the decorative strip. The pull tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the hem of the garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/553,198, filed Mar. 15, 2004.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to an interchangeable and removableattachment for use on the hemline of any garment, such as a pant, skirt,sleeve, collar, or short.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various fashion styles have featured decorated hemlines. The decoratedhemlines range from simple fabrics to fancy beaded designs permanentlyattached to the hem of the garments. While consumers may enjoy the lookof the garment, they are presented several challenges. Cleaning agarment that has a decorative hemline offers one challenge to consumers.If the decorative hemline is not elaborate, the hemline can be washedwith the garment. If the decorative hemline is beaded or has otherdelicate or intricate decoration, however, the garment must bedry-cleaned. Often, the decorative hemline can be damaged in thedry-cleaning process. Once damaged, the garment is often not repairableand hence not wearable. In addition, many decorative accessories, suchas those made with feathers or beads, could prevent conventionalcleaning of the garment. Versatility of the garment offers anotherchallenge for the consumer. Consumers are very limited with theirstyling options when purchasing a garment with a decorative hemline.Purchasing several pair of decorative hemline garments can become costprohibitive.

The present invention of the interchangeable decorative hemlineaddresses one or more of these challenges.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment includes a decorativestrip, a durable strip, a first fastener, and a second fastener. Thedecorative strip has an inside surface and has a length forsubstantially fitting around the hem of the garment. The durable stripis attached or sewn to the inside surface of the decorative strip. Thedurable strip forms a pull-tab that extends beyond one end of thedecorative strip. The first fastener is attached or sewn to the durablestrip, and the second fastener is attached or sewn to the garmentadjacent the hem. The first fastener mates with the second fastener tosubstantially hold the decorative strip to the hem of the garment. Thepull-tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the garmentand bears most of the pulling action when the first and second fastenersare unmated.

The first fastener is preferably a first strip of a VELCRO fastener, andthe second fastener is preferably a second, corresponding strip of theVELCRO fastener. The first strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to thedurable strip is preferably narrower than the durable strip and is sewnpreferably sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip. Inaddition, the first strip of the VELCRO fastener is preferably narrowerthan the second strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment. In oneembodiment, the durable strip is a strip of twill tape, and the pull-tabcan be formed from an approximately half inch loop formed at one end ofthe twill tape. In another embodiment, the durable strip is a length ofribbon, and the pull tabs can be formed from free ends of the ribbonthat extend beyond both ends of the decorative strip and that tietogether.

The decorative strip decorates the hem of the garment by removablyattaching to the hem of the garment with the first and second fasteners.The durable strip reinforces the decorative strip and the firstfastener, and the pull-tab formed at one end of the durable stripfacilitates removal of the decorative strip from the hem of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a garment having an interchangeable hemline attached on thehem.

FIG. 2A shows one side of the interchangeable hemline.

FIG. 2B shows another side of the interchangeable hemline having adurable strip and first fastener.

FIG. 3 shows the garment having a second fastener of the interchangeablehemline attached to the hem of the garment.

FIG. 4A-4B shows various stages of attaching or removing theinterchangeable hemline to the hem of the garment.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of an interchangeable hemline attachedon the hem of a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a garment P is shown having an interchangeablehemline 10. In the present example, the garment P is a pair of pantshaving an interchangeable hemline 10 attached on the hems of each pantleg. In general, however, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be used onpants, skirts, shorts, dresses, or the like. In addition, theinterchangeable hemline 10 can be used on the hems, sleeves, collars, orthe like of the garments. For example, the interchangeable hemline 10can be used on hems of pants as shown, on the lower hems or sleeves ofjackets and shirts, or on the lower hems of skirts or dresses.

The interchangeable hemline 10 for the hem of the garment P includes adecorative strip 20 having first and second ends 22 and 24. The strip 20attaches around the hem of the garment P so that the ends 22 and 24 meettogether. The decorative strip 20 is generally a strip of decorativematerial. In one embodiment, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be madeout of the same material as the garment, although this is not strictlynecessary. The interchangeable hemline 10 can also have a decorativeborder attached to an upper edge of the decorative strip 20. In thepresent embodiment, the interchangeable hemline 10 of FIGS. 2A-B is madeof a different decorative material. In addition, beads are attached to alower edge of the decorative strip 20 and are intended to dangle fromthe interchangeable hemline 10 once attached to a garment. Therefore,the styling of the garment can easily be changed, updated, or lengthenedusing the interchangeable hemline 10.

A pull-tab 32, which will be described in more detail below, isaccessible from the adjoining ends 22 and 24. The pull-tab 32 is used toremove the decorative strip 20 from the garment P. With the decorativestrip 20 removed, the garment can easily be laundered. The decorativestrip 20 is simply removed prior to each washing or dry-cleaning. Thegarment P can then be cleaned properly, and the decorative strip willnot be damaged. Secondly, because the decorative strip 20 is removableand interchangeable, consumers can create a whole new look to thegarment P by applying other removable decorative strips 20. In this way,a garment can be provided with a different aesthetic look by applying adifferent decorative strip 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-B, front and back sides of the interchangeablehemline 10 are shown. As noted above, the interchangeable hemline 10includes the decorative strip 20 having first and second ends 22 and 24.In FIG. 2A, a front side or outside surface 21 of the hemline 10 isshown. This side 21 is visible when the interchangeable hemline 10 isattached to the garment. The pull tab 32 extends from one end 22 of thedecorative strip 20. The pull tab 32 facilitates removal of theinterchangeable hemline 10 from the garment. Hence, the durable strip 30that forms the pull tab 32 bears most of the impact of the pullingaction when removing the interchangeable hemline 10 from the garment.

In FIG. 2B, the back side or inside surface 23 of the interchangeablehemline 10 is shown. This side 21 is typically not visible when thehemline 10 is attached to the garment P. As seen in FIG. 2B, theinterchangeable hemline 10 also includes a durable strip 30 and a firstfastener 40. The durable strip 30 is narrower than the decorative strip20 and is approximately the length of the first fastener 50, which fitsaround the circumference of the hem H as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the durable strip 20 is attached to the insidesurface 23 of the decorative strip 20 near the top edge of the strip 20.Preferably, the durable strip 30 is sewn to the decorative strip 20,although other techniques, such as gluing or heat bonding, can be used.Preferably, the durable strip 30 is a strip of twill tape or otherstrong material for reinforcing the decorative strip 10 and the firstfastener 40.

The durable strip 30 forms the pull tab 32 that extends beyond one end22 of the decorative strip 20. The pull tab 32 can be formed from anapproximately half inch loop of the durable strip 20. The end 33 of theloop for the pull tab 32 can be either sewn or glued in place. The firstfastener 40 is attached to the durable strip 30 near the “top” edge ofthe strip 30. Preferably, the first fastener 40 is a first strip of aVELCRO fastener. In addition, the first fastener 40 is preferably sewnboth to the durable strip 30 and to the decorative strip 20, althoughother techniques can be used.

Referring to FIG. 3, the garment P is shown without the decorative stripattached. The interchangeable hemline (10) also includes a secondfastener 50 attached to the garment P adjacent the hem H. Preferably,the second fastener 50 is sewn directly onto the hem H of the garment P,although other techniques can be used. The second fastener 50 isintended to mate with the first fastener 40 shown in FIG. 2B. Therefore,the second fastener is preferable a second, corresponding strip ofVELCRO capable of mating with the first fastener 40.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, the interchangeable hemline 10 is shown invarious stages of attaching to the hem H of the garment P. To attach thedecorative strip 20 to the garment P, the first fastener 40 is matedwith the second fastener 50 to substantially hold the decorative strip20 to the hem H of the garment P. For example, one end 22 of thedecorative strip 20 is first attached to the hem H of the garment P. Onsome garments P, it may be preferred to align the end 22 of the strip 20with the seam S of the garment P. In this way, the decorative strip 20may not overly stiffen the hem that it is attached to and may keep thehem H somewhat flexible at the seam S. For example, it may be preferredon pants that the ends 22 and 24 of the decorative strip 20 be alignedwith the outside seam S of the pant leg, which can prevent the closurefrom rubbing against the other pant leg as the wearer walks andpotentially coming unfastened.

With one end 22 attached to the hem H, the fasteners 40 and 50 are matedtogether around the hem H of the garment P as successively shown inFIGS. 4A-4B, until the other end 24 of the decorative strip 20 meets thefirst end 22 at the seam S of the garment P. Removal the decorativestrip 20 is the reverse of FIGS. 4A-4B. Removal begins with holding thegarment P, then pulling the pull tab, and separating the first andsecond fasteners 40 and 50 around the hem H.

As best shown in FIG. 4A, the first fastener or strip of VELCRO 40 sewnto the durable strip 30 is narrower than the second fastener or strip ofVELCRO 50 sewn to the hem H of the garment P. Although the first andsecond fasteners 40 and 50 have been shown as the two mating portions ofa VELCRO fastener, it will be apparent that other devices, such asbuttons, hooks and eyes, snaps, or the like can also be used.

Preferably, the second fastener 50 is the portion of VELCRO having amesh, and the first fastener 40 is the portion of VELCRO having aplurality of stiff hooks intended to engage the mesh of the secondfastener 50. The second fastener 50 must be securely attached to thegarment P because this fastener 50 is intended to be washed with thegarment P. Using the mesh portion of the VELCRO fastener for the secondfastener 50 on the hem H of the garment P may prevent other garmentsfrom sticking to the second fastener 50 when laundering the garment Pwith other clothing.

Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of an interchangeable hemline 10is shown attached on the hem of a garment. The present embodiment of theinterchangeable hemline 10 is essentially similar to other embodimentsdisclosed herein except that the present embodiment uses a ribbon 60(rather than twill tape) as the durable strip attached to the decorativestrip 20. The ribbon 60 is attached to the decorative strip 20 in asimilar fashion as the twill tape disclosed above. In addition, thefastener (not shown) is similarly attached to the ribbon in a similarfashion as disclosed above.

The length of the ribbon is greater than that of the decorative strip 20so that free ends 62 and 64 of the ribbon 60 form pull tabs extendingbeyond both ends 22, 24 of the decorative strip 20. Acting as pull tabs,the free ends 62 and 64 facilitate removal of the interchangeablehemline 10 from the garment. Hence, the ribbon 60 bears most of theimpact of the pulling action when removing the interchangeable hemline10 from the garment. In addition, the free ends 62 and 64 tie togetherwhen the interchangeable hemline 10 is attached to the garment. Forexample, the free ends 62 and 64 can be tied into a bow for decorationand for keeping the interchangeable hemline 10 attached to the garment.

Modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readilyoccur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention.

1. An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment, comprising: adecorative strip having an inside surface and having a length forsubstantially fitting around the hem of the garment; a durable stripattached to the inside surface of the decorative strip and forming atleast one pull tab that extends beyond one end of the decorative strip;a first fastener attached to the durable strip; a second fastenerattached to the garment adjacent the hem, wherein the first fastenermates with the second fastener to substantially hold the decorativestrip to the hem of the garment, and wherein the pull tab facilitatesremoval of the decorative strip from the garment.
 2. The interchangeablehemline of claim 1, wherein the first fastener comprises a first stripof a VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip.
 3. The interchangeablehemline of claim 2, wherein the second fastener comprises a second stripof the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment.
 4. The interchangeablehemline of claim 3, wherein the first strip of the VELCRO fastener sewnto the durable strip is narrower than the durable strip
 5. Theinterchangeable hemline of claim 4, wherein the first strip of theVELCRO fastener is sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip. 6.The interchangeable hemline of claim 4, wherein the first strip of theVELCRO fastener is narrower than the second strip of the VELCRO fastenersewn to the garment.
 7. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, whereinthe garment is a pant, a skirt, a short, or a jacket.
 8. Theinterchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the durable strip comprisesa strip of twill tape.
 9. The interchangeable hemline of claim 8,wherein the pull-tab is formed from a looped end of the strip of twilltape.
 10. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the durablestrip comprises a strip of ribbon having a length greater than that ofthe decorative strip such that the ribbon has first and second free endsextending beyond ends of the decorative strip and forming pull tabs. 11.The interchangeable hemline of claim 8, wherein the first and secondends of the ribbon are capable of tying together when the decorativestrip is attached to the hem.
 12. A garment having at least one hem,comprising: a decorative strip having an inside surface and having alength for substantially fitting around the hem of the garment; adurable strip attached to the inside surface of the decorative strip andforming at least one pull tab that extends beyond one end of thedecorative strip; a first fastener attached to the durable strip; asecond fastener attached to the garment adjacent the hem, wherein thefirst fastener mates with the second fastener to substantially hold thedecorative strip to the hem of the garment, and wherein the pull tabfacilitates removal of the decorative strip from the garment.
 13. Theinterchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein: the first fastenercomprises a first strip of a VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip,and the second fastener comprises a second strip of the VELCRO fastenersewn to the garment.
 14. The interchangeable hemline of claim 13,wherein: the first strip is narrower than the durable strip, the firststrip is narrower than the second strip sewn to the garment, and thefirst strip is sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip.
 15. Theinterchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein the garment is a pant, askirt, a short, or a jacket.
 16. The interchangeable hemline of claim12, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of twill tape.
 17. Theinterchangeable hemline of claim 16, wherein the pull tab is formed froma looped end of the strip of twill tape.
 18. The interchangeable hemlineof claim 12, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of ribbonhaving a length greater than that of the decorative strip such that theribbon has first and second free ends extending beyond ends of thedecorative strip and forming pull tabs.
 19. The interchangeable hemlineof claim 18, wherein the first and second ends of the ribbon are capableof tying together when the decorative strip is attached to the hem. 20.An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment, comprising: means fordecorating the hem of the garment; first means for removably attachingthe decorating means to the garment, the first means attached to thedecorating means, second means for removably attaching the decoratingmeans to the garment, the second means attached to the garment andmating with the first means; means for reinforcing the decorating meansand the first attaching means, the reinforcing means including means forfacilitating removal of the decorating means from the hem of thegarment.